Trump Announces E15 Waiver Support to Farm State Lawmakers

The Trump Administration is planning to allow E15 sales year-round. During the White House agriculture roundtable Thursday, President Trump announced his support for E15 sales year-round without a cap on RIN prices, according to attendee, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Ethanol groups have argued that allowing year-round sales of 15 percent ethanol blended fuels would be a “win-win” for agriculture and refiners, who have alleged that RIN prices are overburdensome. President Trump told the group “We’re going to raise it up to 15 percent,” adding the move “makes a lot of people happy.”

Growth Energy applauded the comments from Trump, calling the move a “common-sense fix.” Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says a waiver lifting the Reid Vapor Pressure limits on summer-time E15 sales “allows retailers to offer better options alongside traditional blends all year long.” National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson applauded the move as well, but says “more can and should be done for higher blends of ethanol.” NFU called on the administration to eliminate similar barriers to expanded use of higher blends of ethanol, such as E30.

Kyle Gilley, Senior Vice President of External Affairs & Communications at POET, said, “On behalf of POET team members and stakeholders, we applaud President Trump for calling for regulatory reform that will permit year-round, nationwide sales of E15. This action will grow biofuels and create market demand for the commodities raised by farmers struggling with economic hardships across the Midwest. Small refiners already received their reprieve through recently exposed waiver requests from the EPA. We are grateful President Trump is following through on his commitment to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard and support rural America.”